Multi-system circular knitting machine with needle selection device, and method for needle selection

ABSTRACT

For mechanical selection of knitting needles and mechanical transfer of recorded pattern data from a pattern tape, selector jacks are marked by changing the physical outline thereof by moving shiftable pins in accordance with the recorded pattern (engagement of a pattern tape with the pins) at a predetermined selection position on the machine, each needle having an associated selector jack which, during machine operation, is passed by a raising cam which senses the pin position, to thus raise the selector jack, or not, and cause needle operation, or not, in accordance with the marking (that is, setting of the pins) of the selector jacks. After knitting, the selector jack markings are all returned to a start position by means of an erase cam, for re-setting of the pattern marking pins.

United States Patent [191 Nuber [451 Apr. 23, 1974 [75] Inventor: Otto Nuher, Rottenburg, Germany [73] Assignee: Firma Fouquet-werk Frauz &

Planck, Rottenburg/N, Germany [221 Filed: June 22,1971

21 Appl. No.: 155,600

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 2, 1970 Germany 2032693 [52] US. Cl .1 66/50 R [51] Int. Cl D041) 15/68 [58] Field of Search 66/50 R, 50 B, 42, 25, 66/75, 156, 50 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,947,558 2/1934 Lombardi 66/50 B 2,116,761 5/1938 Korber 66/75 2,129,148 9/1938 Page 66/25 2,240,421 4/1941 Shelmire 66/50 A 3,534,567 10/1970 'Jackson et a1.... 66/50 B 3,667,254 6/1972 Paepke 66/50 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 422,801 1/1935 Great Britain 66/50 R 461,016 2/1937 Great Britain.... 66/25 489,867 8/1938 Great Britain.... 66/25 809,157 2/1959 Great Britain 66/50 B 1,912,871 5/1970 Germany 66/50 B Primary Examiner-Wm. Carter Reynolds Attorney, Agent, or Firm-F1ynn & F rishauf [5 7 ABSTRACT For mechanical selection of knitting needles and mechanical transfer of recorded pattern data from a pattern tape, selector jacks are marked by changing the physical outline thereof by moving shiftable pins in accordance with the recorded pattern (engagement of a pattern tape with the pins) at a predetermined selection position on the machine, each needle having an associated selector jack which, during machine operation, is passed by a raising cam which senses'the pin position, to thus raise the selector jack, or not, and cause needle operation, or not, in accordance with the marking (that is, setting of the pins) of the selector jacks. After knitting, the selector jack markings are all returned to a start position by means of an erase cam, for re-setting of the pattern marking pins.

32 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTED APR 23 I974 SHEET 1 [IF 5 PATENTED APR 23 I874 SHEET 2 OF 5 Fig. 3

JATENTED APR 2 3 I974 SHEET H []F 5 Fig; 6 I

PATENTEDAPR 2 mm 3805' 555 SHEET 5 [IF 5 MULTI-SYSTEM CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE WITH NEEDLE SELECTION DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR NEEDLE SELECTION The present invention relates to a multi-system or multi-feed circular knitting machine having a needle selection device to select needles to knit a Jacquard pattern, and a method for needle selection in such machines, and more particularly to such a machine and a method in which Jacquard-type patterns of unlimited width can be easily made.

The usual multi-system circular knitting machine in which a common Jacquard patterning arrangement is provided to make Jacquard patterns, usually utilizes switchable or rotatable patterning drums or wheels, associated with each knitting feed, and which are selectable and adjustable in accordance with a multi-track patterning tape or band. The cost of pattern drums or pattern wheels is substantial, particularly with machines having large numbers of feeds. Patterning arrangements of this type further have the disadvantage that the field size of the pattern, or the repetition width of the pattern is limited, since the size of the pattern depends on the geometric, spatial dimensions of the patterning wheel, or patterning drum. It has also been proposed, see US. Pat. No. 3,452,560, to provide a patterning arrangement in which pattern wheels having a multiple track of patterning rows are controlled by a multiple track patterning band in order to make patterns of unlimited width. The machine of this type requires a patterning wheel for each knitting system. Thus, the possible number of knitting systems is limited by the space requirements of the patterning wheels themselves. Further, manufacture of the patterning wheels themselves is expensive.

Circular knitting machines having electromagnetically controlled patterning arrangements have been proposed, in which the cylinder needles in each system are controlled continuously in accordance with a pattern. These machines are expensive to make and are complicated and additionally require maintenance steps frequently difficult for personnel trained only with mechanical knitting machines.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a circular knitting machine, and a method, in which the needles can be selected in accordance with a pattern simply and reliably for a number of knitting positions from a single selection point, and which still permits a practically unlimited pattern width; and which does not use electromagnetic devices, but rather relies for selection and control only on mechanical means.

SUBJECT MATTER OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Briefly, the circular knitting machine has a common patterning arrangement common to a number of knitting feeds, which controls the single needles by means of selector jacks to move between a knitting, and a nonknitting position, and which cooperates with a rotating patterning carrier. The selector jacks are located on the circumference of a selector jack cylinder and longitudinally slidable therein. At various heights, and located above each other, the selector jacks carry singly adjustable marker elements which are adjustable at a selection position along the circumference of the machine, in dependence on the pattern of a pattern carrier, so

that their outline aspect is changed. The various knitting feeds have cam races associated with the respective heights of the marking elements, which effect respective longitudinal movement of the selector jacks which have been so marked. All the marking elements of all selector jacks are brought back to their initial position by means of a cancelling arrangement located behind the last knitting feed, so that all the selector jacks which have been marked are brought back to the terminal rest position.

The machine is particularly simple and the arrangement necessary for needle selection is simple, so that electromagnetic means need not be provided.

In accordance with a feature of the invention, the marking elements for the selector jacks are slidable pins guided to slide transverse to the longitudinal extent of the selector jacks, and movable over and beyond the longitudinal edge of the selector jacks. In a preferred form, the needles are connected to needle jacks which are swingable between an operating, and non-operating position; the needle jacks themselves are rocked by means of connecting jacks which are located to be radially movable in a selector jack disc. The selector jacks for the various knitting positions are preferably adjustable in two different heights. In the two heights, they then can be acted on by two independently operable and connectible radially movable cam races, so that, depending on the height, the connecting jacks can be acted on by these cam races.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the method of selection comprises marking the selector jacks at a selection position, singly, and for each of the associated knitting positions in accordance with the selected pattern. The marking of the selector jacks is sensed at the knitting positions, and thereafter, the selector jacks corresponding to the respective knitting position, in accordance with its marking, if moved, or left in its rest position. After the last knitting position, those selector jacks which have been marked, are acted on to cancel the marking of the selector jacks.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the selector jacks comprise a flat metal strip having parallel longitudinal edges which is formed with transversely extending notches, located in predetermined spaced distance from each other, in which longitudinally movable pins are slidably carried, to slide transversely to the longitudinal extent of the selector jacks. Preferably, a thin strip in the form of a bridge member holds the pins in place.

The invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through a portion of the needle cylinder of a circular knitting machine, showing the cylinder needle, with an associated needle selection arrangement;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the selector jack used in the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2A is a sectional view along line Ila-Ila of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic, developed representation of the cylinder cam, as well as the cam portions necessary for operation of the selector jacks, seen in top view;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a needle with associated needle jack and coupled connection jack, aligned with the representation of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4A is a side view of the arrangement of FIG. 4, together with an associated selector jack;

FIG. is a fragmentary, developed top view of a portion of the circumference of the selector jack cylinder, as well as the cam track for the needle jacks, and illustrating the selection position between a pair of knitting positions;

FIG. 6 is a partial axial section, partial side view similar to FIG. 1 of another embodiment and illustrating the effect of the pattern carrier acting on the selector jacks at the selection position;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of the arrangement in accordance with FIG. 1, and illustrating a different embodiment of the selector jacks as well as their actuation;

FIG. 8 is a side view ofa selector jack of the embodiment of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 8A is an end view of the selector jack of FIG. 8.

In the description, similar parts have been given the same reference numerals and will be described but once.

The portion of the circular knitting machines illustrated in FIGS. 1, 6 and 7 shows specifically the needle cylinder. As will appear below, a similar arrangement can be used for the dial. The needle cylinder 1 is shown in section through a needle slot in which a needle 2 is slidably guided. A needle operating jack 3 is swingably coupled to the needle, to move between the full line position and the dotted position. When in the full line position, it fits into a ring-shaped groove 4 of the needle cylinder, so that a butt 5 can be lifted out of a cam track 6 of the knitting cam. In the dashed position, that is, rocked forwardly as shown in FIG. 1, the butt 5 extends into the cam track 6 so that the needle, connected to the needle jack 3 is driven out to projecting position at the knitting point, as illustrated schematically in FIG. 3. Rocking movement of the needle operating jack 3 can, therefore, bring the needle jack into the associated cam track 6, or out of engagement therewith, thereby controlling projections of the needle. Additionally, each needle has a needle butt 8, extending into a cam track 7 which serves to guide the needle.

The needle jacks have a small operating end 9, for pushing sideways, at which point they are swingably coupled with a connecting jack 10, which connects with the needle jacks to rock them back and forth. Each one of the connecting jacks 10 has a pair of angled abutments 11 between which the pusher extension 9 of the needle jack extends, with only little play. The connectingjacks 10 are guided in grooves ofa jack disc 12. Jack disc 12 is located on a selector jack cylinder 13, which surrounds the needle cylinder 1 and is spaced therefrom. Selector jack cylinder 13 is seated on the cylinder drive ring 14, rotating together with the needle cylinder 1. Needle cylinder l,jack disc 12 and selector jack cylinder 13 thus rotate, while the cam races located within the cam housing '15 are fixed.

The connecting jacks 10 extend somewhat beyond the periphery of the jack cylinder 12, as seen, for example, in FIG. 1. A selector jack 16 is longitudinally slidably located in the jack cylinder 13, guided for example by guide surfaces or elements 17 which extend at the upper side 17a above the projecting end of the connecting jacks 10, to ensure proper bearing of the connecting jack 10 on the upper end surface of the selection jack l6, and to prevent side tilt, and escape of one jack with respect to the other. Operation of the selector jack 16 causes the upper end to engage and tip the connecting jack 10 from the full line position into the dashed position. The ring-spring 18 is located in the upper region of the selector jack cylinders 13 to hold the selector jacks 16 in position. The selector jacks 16 are guided radially at the lower end of the selector jack cylinder 13 by a ring of cam parts 19 (see FIGS. 1, 3) which keeps the selector jacks 16 from slipping out between the guide surfaces 17.

Each knitting position has two radially adjustable cam parts 20, 21 associated therewith. Cam portion 20 is aligned with the connecting jacks 10 when they are in lifted position, shown in FIG. 1 in dashed lines. Cam portion 21 is aligned with the connecting jacks 10 when they are in the lower position, shown in full line. Depending on the pattern of the various knitting positions, the cam portions 20 or 21 can selectively be made operative. The selector jacks l6 determine which of the connecting jacks 10 will come under the influence of the cam portion 20, or the cam portion 21 respectively. In the adjustment shown in FIG. 1, cam portion 21 pushes the connecting jack 10, aligned therewith, radially inwardly. This causes the associated needle jack 3 to have its butt 5 lifted out of the cam race 6, so that the respective needle will remain non-operative, that is, will not be projected for knitting. The connecting jacks 10, as well as the needle jacks 3 are returned back to their normal, inoperative position (shown in FIG. 1 in dotted line) by a cam 22, provided for each knitting position, which is formed with a wedge-shaped taper 23 which cooperates with a butt 24 formed on each one of the connecting jacks 10. A further cam 25 depresses the connecting jacks 10 which have been lifted, and thus those selector jacks 16 which have been associated therewith so that they are moved back into their base position, in advance of lifting of the selector jacks 16, if the pattern so requires, at the next knitting position.

The selector jacks 16 are so formed that they can be marked at a selection position by a pattern carrier, as will be described in detail below, which marking can be sensed at the knitting position. The selector jacks, therefore, are formed with a series of vertically staggered transversely extending grooves 26 (FIG. 2) in which a pin 27 is longitudinally slidably guided, held in the region of the edge of the selector jacks 16 by a small cross piece 28 connected to the selector jack. The various pins 27 are associated with sawtoothshaped ring grooves formed in the selector jack cylinder 13. The slanting portion 29 is directed downwardly, as seen in FIG. 1. The slanting surfaces 29 form a cancelling or re-set arrangement.

The selector jacks are additionally formed with a selector butt 16" which cooperates with a cam portion 30, formed beyond a group of knitting positions (FIGS. 3, 5) and which pulls the selector jacks 16 from the base position deeply downwardly, so that all the shifted pins 27 engage with the slanting surfaces 29 and are pushed back into their original, unmarked starting position. Thereafter, the selector jacks 16 are lifted back into the base or start position by a cam part 19. The erasing of the marking or indexing of the selector jacks 16 is done between adjacent groups of knitting positions. The machine circumference is formed between the groups of knitting positions with a space (FIG. 5, left half) in which the erasing, or cancelling of the marking of the selector jacks for the previously knitted knitting positions is effected, and further a new marking for the subsequent group is initiated.

Operation, or change of position of the selector jacks depending ontheir marking at any instant is done by the jack lifters 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, and located at the various knitting positions. The jack lifters are formed as fixed cam parts which can be made active or not. The arrangement is such that each knitting position has an associated cam part, each position being assigned a specific height, that is a specific pin number, counting vertically. Thus, each knitting position has a jack lifter aligned with a specific height of a pin 27 acting, in this height, on those pins of the selector jacks which have been shifted at the selection position.

Shifting of the position of the pins 27 in the various selector jacks 16, at the selection positions along the circumference of the machine is controlled by pattern carriers or bands which can act directly on the rows of pins of the selector jacks. When utilizing so-called pattern bands, or tapes, a band can be brought directly in contact with the rows of pins; it is also possible to utilize a drum with movable inserts, in known manner, to transfer the selection of the pattern from a pattern carrier tape on the pattern controllers, in this case the pins 27. The specific type of arrangement to shift the position of pins 27, in accordance with the pattern, will depend, for example, on the desired width of the pattern field within the tube of material.

OPERATION Selection of the needles depending upon the information of the pattern carrier is carried out by first bringing all pins 27 into their neutral or start position. This is done by erasing the marking of all selector jacks 16, by pulling the selector jacks by the cam 30 downwardly so far that the pins 27 which were projecting engage surfaces 29 and are forced back into their radially outward, or rest position schematically. This is done before a selection position, illustrated as line 40 in FIGS. 3 and 5 is reached.

Needles 2 are in withdrawn position. Connecting jacks are tilted downwardly by cam 25 and pushed radially outwardly by cam 23.

At the selection position 40 (FIG. 3, 5), the pins 27 of the selector jacks 16 which pass by are set in accordance with the pattern. Upon further movement of the selector jacks 16, they reach the first knitting position, where they meet the selector lifter 32 (FIGS. 1, 3). All those selector jacks 16 in which the upper pin 27 has not been moved forwardly at the selection position 40 are lifted, the upward motion aligning the associated connecting jack 10 to the cam portion 20. The selector jacks 16 in which the pins 27 have been pushed forwardly remain in the rest position, so that the associated connecting jacks 10 will remain in the region of effectiveness of cam 21. Cams 20, 21, depending on their setting, effect the predetermined needle selection by pushing the associated connecting jack 10 radially inwardly, or not, so that the associated needle jack 3, with its butt 5 is lifted out of cam 6, leaving the corresponding needle in its rest position; the not-rocked needle jacks 3, however, engage with their butts 5 in the cam 6 and thus effect outward movement of the needle.

After the first knitting position, marked as I in FIG. 3, has been passed, the needle jacks 3 which have been rocked are first brought by means of the associated connecting jacks l0 and by means of cams 25, 23, in advance of the next knitting position, into their rest position. The selector jacks 16, to the extent that they have been lifted, are brought back into their rest position without, however, changing the setting of the pins 27.

At the second knitting feed, marked in FIG. 3 with II, the lifting cam 33 is aligned to the height of the second row of pins 27. At this knitting position, all those selector jacks 16 are lifted in which the pins 27 of the second row have not been moved. The needle projection is then controlled, as previously described, by transferring the movement to the connecting jacks 10, then to the needle jacks 3 and cam portions 20, 21.

This process repeats until the selector jacks have passed through all the knitting feeds, in the illustrated case, 6 knitting feeds, for which a row of pins has been provided on the selector jacks 16. After passing of the last knitting feed, a cam part 30 is provided which erases the marking, or memory storage of the selection of the selector jacks 16, and permits a new setting to be made for the pins 27 on the selector jacks 16. The ad justment of the pins 27 at the selection position 40 can be carried out while the needles are working, since the knitting operation is not affected by adjustment of the pins.

The sequence of operation, as described, is the same for the pattern carriers of all selection positions 40, as well as for all groups of knitting positions. For example, for a three-color patterning with 36 knitting positions, the pattern carrier may select at the first selection position the pattern for knitting positions l-6; a second pattern carrier, on a second selection position, may select the pattern for knitting positions 7-12, and so on, until all the pattern carriers have transferred the information relating to the pattern to the pins 27. Upon one rotation of the machine, 12 three-colored rows of loops, or stitches are formed. The sequence of the pattern rows in the pattern carriers is so selected that, for each rotation of the machine, the pattern will continue to be made or knitted, until the entire height of the pattern is reached.

The width of the pattern is unlimited. It can be spread over the entire circumference of the cylinder, or can be limited to portions thereof. The position, with respect to a given point on the circumference of the fabric tube which is being knitted can be exactly predetermined. It is only necessary to suitably control the selector jacks 16 on the circumference of the selector jack cylinder.

FIG. 5 illustrates the fitting of the selector jack cylinder 513 with selector jacks 516, in a schematic representation corresponding to FIG. 3. A structure which is associated with the diagram of FIG. 5 will be discussed in connection with FIG. 6. At the major part of the circumference of the selector jack cylinder 513, that is, at the left side, the selector jacks 516 have only one row of pins 38; the remaining rows, corresponding to the alignment of the cams 32 to 37 in FIG. 5 are blank, that is, are not fitted with pins. The selector jacks with one row of pins 38 are used in positions in which no specific pattern is to be made but in which merely background, that is, non-patterned fabric portions are to be knitted. Since there are no rows of pins 27'corresponding to the jack lift cams 32 to 37 (FIG. 1) it is not possible to mark the selector jacks 516 by the pattern carrier, and likewise the jack lift cams 32 to 37 cannot affect the selector jacks 516 not having pins in alignment with earns 32 to 37. At the right side of FIG. 5, selectorjacks 516 are inserted in the circumference of the selector jack cylinder in which all pins in alignment with cams from 32 to 37 are completely occupied; on the other hand, the upper row of pins 38 which was present in the selector jacks 516 at the left side has been left blank. The width of the section along the circumference of the selector jack cylinder.513 which is occupied by selector jacks 516 completely supplied with pins 27 determines the field width of a pattern, so that a desired width of pattern can be selected and can be arranged on the material. It is equally possible to arrange predetermined patterns to repeat, adjacent each other, or locate patterns between nonpatterned sections.

The width of the pattern is preferably selected to be a whole number fraction of the circumference of the selector jack cylinder, or of the number of the selector jacks 516 present on the selector jack cylinder 13. For example, if 1,800 selector jacks 516 are present, corresponding to 1,800 needles, then the selector jack number can be divided by two, three, four, five, six, eight, nine and I0, so that pattern width from between 900 to I80 stitches can be selected. The selection of the divisor forming a whole number into which the number of the selector jacks, present on the circumference of the cylinder can be divided is advantageously chosen to determine the width of the pattern. It permits to make the pattern carrier shorter and to achieve better utilization thereof. If the pattern carrier has the form ofa pattern tape, or hand, then pattern repeats can be inserted, and arranged in offset sequence. Referring again to FIG. 5, where the left side shows selector jacks 516 which are provided with merely one additional pin 38 to select non-patterned fabric on all knitting positions: In such arrangements as seen in FIG. 6, it is preferred that the upper pin 38 abuts with its inner end against the circumference of the selector jack cylinder 513, without the selectorjack cylinder being formed with an inclined surface 29. In the modification of FIG. 6, the pins 38 of the upper rows are thus radially not movable. They are lifted at the various knitting positions by an associated jack lifter 38' (FIG. similar to the lifting ofthe selector jacks having pins in other rows, if the selector jack lifter 38 is placed in operation.

The rows of pins 38 permit the determination of the desired type of knitting, that is, the selection of needles in the non-patterned portion in dependence of the type of knitting there to be done, for example, for interlock knit, l l or I 2 rib knitting, or other types of knitting.

The selection of the pins 27 at a selection position 40 by means of a pattern carrier is illustrated in FIG. 6. A pattern carrier in form of a band or tape guiding drum is mounted to have its axis parallel to the axis of the selector jack cylinder 13. Drum 41 is fixed to a shaft 42 by means of set screws 51, which permit adjustment of the circumferential position of the drum 41 with respect to the shaft 42 and hence the machine drive. Shaft 42, in turn, is connected to a drive gear 43 journalled in the support structure of the machine. The tape guide drum 41 is synchronously driven with the selector jack cylinder 13 by means of a gear 45 meshing with gear 43, and formed on the cylinder drive ring 14. The gear ratio between gear 45 and gear 43 is preferably selected to be the same for all the drums 41 ans so chosen that a tape which is fed, without slippage, by the drums 41 will be exactly aligned with the selector jack 516 at the selection position 40 associated with the respective selector jack 516.

The pattern tape 80 is carried along by a sprocket ring 46, formed of projecting pins at the lower portion of the drum 41, which engage into corresponding openings 47 of the pattern tape, thus ensuring exact synchronism between the pattern tape and movement of the selector jack cylinder, as the pattern tape rolls against the circumference of the selector jack cylinder. The pattern tape 80 is formed with patterning rows or tracks 32 to 37 located one above the other, in which punch marks 48 are formed, depending on the pattern. The pattern tracks 32 to 37 are aligned with respect to the corresponding rows of pins 27 of the selector jacks 516. The drum 41 is formed with ring-shaped grooves 49 in the region of the pins to permit the pins to pass through punches formed in the tape; where the tape is solid, the pins are pushed outwardly. As seen in FIG. 6, pins 27 of the selector jacks 516 running past the selection position 40 are selected at the selection position in dependence on the distribution of the punches 48 of the selector tape 80. When a hole and a position ofa pin 27 coincide, the pins can extend into the ring-formed grooves 49 of the guide drum, that is, may remain undisturbed. In those regions, in which the ring-shaped grooves 49 are covered, however, by the tape, pins 27 are shifted and thus moved, in accordance with the pattern. The upper row of pins 38 is arranged to lie above the pattern band 80, and is thus not influenced by the pattern band or tape.

As seen in FIG. 5, a space is provided in the region of the selection position 40 and between the knitting positions, in which the selection'jacks 516 are guided during the adjustment of the pins 27 below by cam races 519 acting on the selector jack butts 516", and on top, by a counter carrying cam 50. These cams ensure that pins 27 of the selector jacks are accurately aligned at the selection position 40. As FIG. 5 additionally shows, a knitting position is switched off or, respectively, is so formed in the region of the selection position 40 that the butts 5 of the needle jacks 3, within the region of the selection position, pass in the circular channel which forms a neutral guide groove without being affected so that the needles 2 remain in the nonknitting position in this region. This is illustrated in the upper portion of FIG. 5 in which the cam path 6 for the needle jacks 3 is shown. Adjacent to the selection position 40, one of the selector jack lifters, for example lifter 32 raises those selector jacks in which the pins 27 of the upper row have not been shifted. Those selector jacks in which the pins are located only in row 38, that is, for fabric portions without patterns, the additional cam 38' is switched in, or switched out, as desired, depending on the type of knitting stitches which are to be formed in the following knitting positions. This does not affect the remaining selector jacks, since in those selector jacks, the row of pins 38 has been left blank. The jack lift earns 38 and the jack lift cams 32-37 lift the rows of selector jacks 516 depending upon the position of pins 27 of the associated rows of pins, so that the selector jacks 516 are lifted in accordance with the pattern marked thereon, or set by positioning pins 27. This has been explained in principle with respect to FIG. 5. In the following knitting positions III VI, not shown in FIG. 5, the further jack lift earns 33 to 37 are prov'ided, aligned with the relatively associated rows of pins of the selector jacks. The lifting cam 38 can be placed in position, or removed, at each knitting position depending on the pattern desired. The manufacture of a fabric havinga width of pattern of one quarter of the cylinder circumference will be explained in connection with FIGS. and 6, assuming a knitting machine having ],800 needles at the circumference of the cylinder.

450 selector jacks 516 are located on the circumference of the selector jack cylinder 513, each having six rows of pins 27, as seen in FIG. 2. 1,350 selector jacks 516 have only a single row of pins 38. The selector jacks 516 are so distributed along the circumference of the selector jack cylinder 513, that the selector jacks 516 having the six rows of pins will be located at a predetermined location along a circumference of the knitted tube, corresponding to the desired pattern. The selector jacks 516 which carry only the single row of pins 38 are then placed in the remaining grooves of the selector jack cylinder 513. They are not influenced by the operation of the pattern carrier 80.

The pattern carrier band 80 is punched in accordance with a desired pattern and acts directly on the pins 27 of the selector jacks 516. Because the pattern band acts directly on the pins, it is important that the position at which the patterning formation, and particularly the pattern hole 48 in the pattern carrier is exactly aligned with the sixrows of pins. The begin of the patterning on the pattern carrier must exactly coincide with the region of the selector jack cylinder 513 in which the selector jacks 516 having pins corresponding to rows 32m 37 are located.

in order to ensure a suitable adjustment, the drum 41 can be adjusted on the shaft 42 and its final position fixed by means of set screws 51;

If the width of the pattern. forms one quarter of the circumference of the cylinder and three quarters of the circumference of the cylinder is blank, that is, is nonpatterned fabric then the length of the pattern tape commanding three quarters of the circumference of the cylinder would become uneconomical. The length of the pattern tape for each revolution of the selector jack cylinder 513 is sub-divided in equal fractions, for example into four parts, and each part has a whole width of the pattern, in the proper sequence, punched out in accordance with the pattern, thereby avoiding long lengths of the pattern tape and free running of unpatterned, blank non-punched tape.

If, for example, a length of tape of five cylinder revolutions has been selected, then it is possible, with a subdivision of four parts for each revolution of the selector jack cylinder to punch into the tape 5 X 4 repeat width to be punched adjacent each other. The pattern tape is shortened by one repeat width so that the repeat will occur in offset rows, that is, will act on the pins 27 of the selector jacks at the selection position 40. The pattern tape is an endless closed band, or loop and is guided on the drum 41 such that the beginning of the first punched in width of pattern coincides with the beginning of sensing of the pattern by pattern selector jacks 516 having the six rows of pins 27 thereon. Thus, the pattern is first sensed when the cylinder 513 having jacks 516 with six pins 27 senses the holes, or is aligned therewith, so that those selector jacks 516 engaging the first recurrence of the pattern punched into the pattern carrier are marked by displacement of the pins 27 as soon as the machine is started. As the machine runs, the pattern tape then moves synchronously with the rotation of the selector jack cylinder 513 about the drum 4], which guides the tape to the selector jack cylinder 513.

After the end of the first width of the first pattern which coincides with the end of the region of the selector jack cylinder 513 in which selectorjacks 516 having the six pins 27 are located, the pattern tape runs over three quarters of the circumference of the selector jack cylinder (corresponding to three pattern widths) with selector jacks which have, however, only row of pins 38. As has been noted above, these pins 38 do not engage the pattern tape. Thus, no pattern is transferred or stored on the selector jacks during the first revolution of the selector jack cylinder in the following three pattern widths, the following three pattern widths not having any effect whatsoever.

Upon the start of the second revolution of the selector jack cylinder 513, the fifth pattern control punches of the pattern tape act on pins 27 of the selector jacks 516 which appear, the following three repeats of the pattern again having no effect. Upon thethird revolution of the selector jack cylinder 513, the ninth repeat of the pattern will control, upon the fourth revolution the 13th pattern repeat, and upon the fifth revolution of the cylinder, the 17th pattern repeat will control the selector jacks, in accordance with the pattern, located on the circumference of the selector jack cylinder 513. Since the pattern tape only has 519 pattern repeat control punches, the fifth revolution of the cylinder causes an offset, or shift of the pattern control punches on the tape with respect to the selector jack cylinder 513 by one pattern width. Thus, as the endless pattern tape makes its second rotation around the guide drum 41, the second pattern field controlling punches will act on the selector jacks having pins 27 which can be adjusted in accordance with the pattern, at the beginning of the revolution of the selector jack cylinder 513. This offset by one pattern width will carry itself through about all pattern widths on the tape, so that, upon the second revolution of the pattern carrier, that is, of the tape, about the drum 41, pattern fields, 2, 6, 10, 14 and 18 will select the pins 27 on the appropriate jacks 156 during the next five revolutions of the selector jack cylinder 513 and as the selector jacks 516 pass the selection position 40.

After the 10th revolution of the selector jack cylinder, and the second full revolution of the pattern tape,

, the pattern tape is again offset by one more pattern field, or pattern width with respect to the field width of the selector jack cylinder; thus, during the third revolution of the pattern carrier, that is the tape about the drum 41, the selection of pattern fields 3, 7, 1 l, 15 and 19 will be effected. When the pattern tape makes its fourth complete revolution, pattern fields 4, 8, l2 and 16 will control the pins 27 of the selector jacks on the selector jack cylinder 513. This is the end of the complete patterning, in the example selected; at the fifth revolution, the pattern starts anew, that is, upon the fifth revolution of the closed control tape pattern fields l, 5, 9, l3, and 17, as above noted, will be selected, and the pattern will repeat.

The entire length of the pattern tape thus stores the 19 pattern fields adjacent each other, requiring for complete control, 19 revolutions of the selector jack cylinder. Assuming a three-color pattern, then a pattern tape which acts on six rows of pins 27 located on selector jacks 516 can form l9 X 2 38 rows of the pattern.

A circular knitting machine with 36 knitting positions having selector jacks 516 with six rows of selection pins 27 requires six selection positions 40, and accordingly six pattern tapes which are located in equal width along the circumference of the machine. Each pattern tape selects two rows of patterns, so that upon each revolution of the needle cylinder, 6 X 2 12 rows of patterns are knitted. A length of l9 adjacent field widths will knit, with 19 revolutions of the cylinder, 19 X l2 228 rows, until a pattern will repeat. Assuming a width of the pattern of 450 stitches, a size of pattern is obtained with twice 228 rows of pattern heights which easily meets current pattern requirements and which permits practically unlimited selection for patterns. The abovegiven example is merely one pattern which can readily be selected and controlled, and many other patterns, repeats, and field widths can be commanded by use of a suitably punched control tape 80.

H0. 7 illustrates a further embodiment for needle selection in accordance with the present invention. Parts which are similar to those previously described have been given the same reference numerals and will not be explained again. Cams 132 and 135 are provided, having functions similar to cams 32 35 of FIG. 1.

The selector jack cylinder 130 has-selector jacks 160 inserted therein which carries in each row not one, but two pins 270, 271, held by a small bracket or strip 28 in corresponding grooves 260 formed in the selector jacks 160. This arrangement permits lifting ofthe selector jacks 160 to two different heights, depending upon whether both pins 270, 271, or only one pin, for example the lower pin 271 has been shifted at the selection position, and thus engages with the selector jack lifter. Both pins 270, 271 are normally retracted, and the selector jack 160 remains in rest position, that is, at the lower position in FIG. 7. A butt 116" is provided having the function of butt 16 in FIGS. 1 3. If the lower pin 271 is shifted, then the selector jack is lifted by the associated lifting cam, for example cam 132 only to half height; if none of the pins 270 and 271 have been shifted, then the selector jack is lifted to full height. Controlling the height oflift of the selectorjack, for example by the two pins shown in the example, which results in three different height positions of the selector jacks, and thus of the connecting jacks permits associating the connecting jacks 10 with three different cams 20, 20a and 21 which can be associated, depending on the pattern, with the respective knitting positions. The embodiment of FIG. 7, utilizing the selector jacks 160 (FIG. 8, FIG. 8A) can select not only threecolored patterns, but also more than three, for example four or more colored patterns if, for example, the first row of pins has two colors associated therewith by two different height positions, and the other colors for example the other two colors are associated with the third height position, for example by either being knitted in, or left off. The second row of pins can have the pins 270, 271 so adjusted that needles which have previously been omitted are later selected and brought, in two height positions of the selector jacks 160 to knitting position in order to make the missing loops. The third height position of the selector jacks 160 disables the needles which were caused to knit by the first rows of jacks in which the pins had been displaced.

The return of the needle jacks 3 and of the connecting jacks 10 is carried out, as before, by a cam race 23 before a new pattern, or color is selected and commanded.

The rows of pins selectively positioned by the pattern carrier at a selection position 40 can be lifted in advance of each knitting position by the same selector jack cam, so that the height position of the connecting jacks 10 for several subsequent knitting positions can be maintained. For a three-color pattern, the base color of the first knitting position can be formed, for example, with connecting jacks 10 which are not lifted; in the second knitting position the first color can be formed with connecting jacks 10 lifted to half position and the second color can be selected at the third knitting position with completely lifted connecting jacks 10, the selector jacks being lifted in each instance by the samejack lifting cam (e.g., cam 32) associated with the same row of pins 27. The connecting jacks 10 which have not been moved bring the needles into operating position for proper selection of color, at the knitting points. Thus it is possible to. select the color patterns, as desired, at any knitting position, or to change, alternatively, the pattern rows by merely changing the adjustment of the cam parts 20, 20a, 21. Each double row of pins 270, 271 on the selector jacks 16 can control two to three knitting positions in accordance with a pattern, so that the number of the pattern carriers necessary at the circumference of the machine can be reduced.

The embodiment of FIG. 7 can control the selection and adjustment by means of a pattern carrier or band of 12 knitting positions, using four double rows of pins 270, 271 (4 X 3 12) utilizing three-colored patterns; for 36 knitting positions only three pattern carriers will be necessary.

It is also possible to limit the number of the double rows of pins 270, 271 and rather increase the number of the pattern carriers, so that, for example, six pattern carriers would be required if the selector jacks 16 are provided with merely two rows of double pins.

To knit a four-color pattern, it is desirable to use three double rows of pins 270, 271 which, common with six knitting positions can select one and one-half rows of pattern, so that with six pattern carriers at the circumference of the machine, 6 X 1% 9 four-color rows of patterns are made at the 36 knitting positions.

The arrangement in which the selector jacks 160 have double rows of pins 270, 271 has the advantage that the pattern arrangement becomes very versatile and pattern carriers of varying width can be used.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment utilizing four double rows of pins 270, 271 which can be used for all the described arrangements. More or less rows of pins and more or less jack lifting cams can be used. As the number of rows of pins decreases, the selector jack cylinder 13 can be made smaller, that is, less high, and the length of the selector jacks, as well as the number of the selector jack lifting cams will decrease. Additionally, narrower pattern bands or tapes can be used.

Circular knitting machines having a fine cut, for example 20 or more needles per inch, preferably are so constructed that the pins in the selector jacks are offset with respect to each other, similarly to the needle arrangement in interlock machines. Two groups of pins are thus formed, and the arrangement is then so modified that only every alternate pin can be shifted by the pattern carrier in any one row. In this case, two rows of pins (for example the rows corresponding to lifters 32 and 33; 34 and 35', 36 and 37 see FIG. select one row; the number of the selection points 40, and the pattern carrier must be increased, however. Each pattern carrier has a pair of rows of patterned punches 32 and 37', the punches 48 in the pattern carrier being relatively offset by the spacing between a pair of needles.

The present invention has been described in connection with a circular knitting machine arranged for se lection of needles only on the cylinder. The present invention can be equally applied for selection of needles on the dial, or for selection of needles on both the dial and the cylinder. If, in accordance with the inventive concept, the dial needles are to be selected, then the needle jacks have to be suitably formed and a suitable shape must be given to the connecting jacks which ensure that shifting movement which is applied to the connecting jacks by the selector jacks 16, and given effect by the cam parts 20, 21 is suitably transmitted to the dial needle. The selector jack cylinder 13 and the jack disc 12 would then, desirably, be arranged upsidedown with respect to FIGS. 1, 3, that is, facing downwardly, located above the dial proper. In all other respects, the mechanism can be similar and, essentially, a duplication of that specifically shown and described in connection with FIG. 1, except that the drawing itself will have to be considered upsidedown, and the right-angle transmission of motion from the connecting jacks 10 by means of the angled-over portions II is to be transmitted directly, or over suitable needle jacks, by an in-line motion moving the needle butt, or the needle jack butt into and out of engagement with a suitable cam race.

Various other changes and modifications may be made within theinventive concept. The particular machine described has a rotating needle cylinder, and thus a rotating selector jack cylinder, with stationary cam races; knitting action depends on relative movement between cam races, and the movable knitting needle cylinder, and dial, respectively. The present invention is equally application to machines in which the relative movements of parts is reversed if, likewise, the relative arrangement of parts is observed.

The detailed specification is directed to that portion of the machine with which the method of the present invention is useful and in which the apparatus of the present invention is incorporated.

The application of the present invention to other types of knitting machines, or to the dial, that is, control of the needles by means of control of the dial needle jacks will be obvious. For a complete discussion of knitting machines, reference may be had to Double Knit Fabric Manual, copyright 1961, and Knitting Dictionary." copyright 1966, both published by the Na tional Knitted Outerwear Association. Typical knitting machines are, for example, Type SMJ, SRJP, SMJ, SMJH, and other interlock circular knitting machines, eight lock circular knitting machines, single knit machines and the like made by Fouquet-Werke Frauz & Planck and as disclosed and described in detail in Betriebsanleitung (Operating Instructions") and Montageund Betriebsanleitung (Installation and Operating Instructions") for these machines. Additional references: Technologie der Rundstrickerei by Albert Diebler, Konradin-Verlag, Stuttgart, particuma a; 9 (lieIiundraenderrnaschinn), vol. 1'6 (ljie Rundraendermaschinen), vol. 1 1 (Der Rundstrickstrumpfautomat). U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,169,801; 2,697,336; British Pat. No. 874,719 (which discloses a system to control the dial needles), and British Pat. No. 996,291, from which well known parts of the machines, and the cooperation of the apparatus of the present invention with known parts of knitting machines, will be obvious.

I claim:

1. In a multi-feed circular knitting machine having needles (2) and means (3, 10) coupled to the needles to control the needles for projection to knitting position or for idling in non-knitting position,

a patterning arrangement common to a plurality of knitting feeds (I, II to knit Jacquard patterns of random size, and having selector means located on the machine and in engagement with the needle control means, and movable between an effective and a rest position; and

a pattern carrier located to affect the patterning arrangement,

the improvement wherein the selector means comprises a selector jack cylinder l3) fixed with respect to the rotary position of the needles and coaxial with respect to the machine;

a plurality of selector jacks (l6) movably retained in the selector jack cylinder (13);

a plurality of marker elements (27) located on at least some of the selector jacks (16), located at predetermined longitudinally staggered positions on each selector jack (l6) and movable on the jacks between an active, marked position and a rest, non-projected position, by a predetermined distance, from an end surface of the jack, depending on whether the marker is active, or in rest position;

a selection position (40) located on the circumference of the machine and having means (41) guiding the pattern carrier (80) to engage all marker elements (27 of any one jack in projected position for transfer of information recorded on the pattern carrier to the selector jacks by effecting, selectively, movement of the marker elements (27) from rest to active position, and thus store pattern information on the selector jacks;

cam means (32, 33 37) associated with the respective knitting feeds (I, II and located on the machine in staggered relation corresponding to the staggered predetermined positions of the marker elements (27), said cam means sensing the position of the marker elements (27) on the selector jacks (16) and thus the transferred pattern information and effecting, or not effecting, change in position of the selector jacks (16) in accordance with the sensed marking, change in position of the selector jacks being transferred to the needle control means to selectively move the needle between idling and knitting position;

and marking erase means (29, 30) selectively engageable by those marker elements which have been moved, and returning the marker elements which were placed in projected position to rest position.

2. Knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein the selector jacks (16) are elongated and the marker elements comprise marker pins (27) slidable transversely to the main axis of the selector jack (16).

3. Knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein the selector jacks (16) are elongated and the marker elements comprise at least two substantially adjacent marker pins (FIG. 7: 270, 271) located at a predetermined position with respect to the length of the selector jack, the marker pins being independently shiftable on the selector jack.

4. Knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein the needles of the machine are retained in a circular needle retaining element (1);

and the selector jack cylinder (13) is coaxial with respect to the needle retaining element, radially spaced therefrom, and mechanically fixed thereto.

5. Knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein a connecting jack ring (12) is provided having radially extending slots cut therein and wherein the needle control means comprises a needle jack and a connecting jack for each needle;

each needle jack (3) being movable between an active and a rest position; the connecting jacks (10) being located in the slots of the connecting jack ring (12) and controlling the needle jacks (3) to move the needle jacks between the active and rest positions upon shifting of position of the connecting jacks (10);

said connecting jack for any needle being in engagement with a respective selector jack (16) and shiftable in position upon movement of the selector jack in accordance with the position of the marker elements (27) of the selector jack (16) as determined by the pattern.

6. Knitting machine according to claim 5, further comprising connecting jack operating cam means (20, 21) respectively engageable with said connecting jacks (10) in accordance with the position of the connecting jacks, as determined by the transferred movement of the selector jacks, as controlled by the pattern.

7. Knitting machine according to claim 6, wherein the connecting jacks (10) are axially shiftable in said slots, and said jack operating cam means (20, 21) are located at different axial heights with respect to the connecting jack ring to selectively engage the connecting jacks in accordance with the position of the connecting jack (10) as determined by the position of the associated selector jack (l6) and thus of the pattern.

8. Knitting machine according to claim 5, including reset cam means (23, 25) located behind each knitting feed returning the connecting jacks (10) to rest position.

9. Knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein the marking erase means (29, comprise means located beyond the last knitting feed for which a selection is to be made to return all marker elements to rest position.

10. Knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein the selector jacks (16) are elongated elements and the marker elements (27) on the selector jacks form shiftable pins (27; 270, 271) movable transversely with respect to the selector jacks in accordance with the pattern on the pattern carrier (80);

the selector jack cylinder (13) is formed with sawtooth shaped grooves located opposite the shiftable pins on the selector jack and having an inclined camming surface (29);

and the marking erase means comprises cam means (30) moving the selector jacks transversely to the sawtooth grooves for engagement of those pins which have been shifted with the inclined surface (29) to re-set all shifted pins to rest position on the selector jacks.

11. Knitting machine according to claim 1, including guide cam means (19, 50) located in alignment with the selection position (40) to positively guide the selector jacks (16) while the pattern carrier engages the marker elements on the selector jacks (16).

12. Knitting machine according to claim 5, including guide cam means (19, 50) located in alignment with the selection position (40) to positively guide the selector jacks (16) while the pattern carrier (80) engages the marker elements on the selector jacks (16);

and needle operating cam means formed with a straight, neutral guide groove (60) in the region of the selection position (40).

13. Knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein the pattern carrier comprises a punched tape (80) and wherein the pattern carrier guide means (41) comprises a rotatable guide drum (41) located at the selection position (40) coaxial with respect to the selector jack cylinder (13), said drum being driven in synchronism with the machine drive and having means (46) guiding, without slip, the pattern tape thereover;

said drum (41) being located adjacent the selector jacks (16) and formed with ring-shaped grooves (49) at locations aligned with the marker elements (27) on the selector jacks (16) to permit the marker elements to extend into said grooves;

the tape being guided about the circumference of the drum and being formed with punch holes in alignment (3237') with the location of the marker elements (27) to cover, or not to cover the grooves (49) in accordance with the punch marks and thereby move, or not move the marker elements (27) on the selector jacks in accordance with the pattern on the pattern carrier.

14. Knitting machine according to claim 13, wherein the circumferential alignment of the drum with respect to the machine drive is adjustable.

l5. Knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the selector jacks (16) located in the selectorjack cylinder (13) includes a row of marker elements (38) located in a position out of engagement with said pattern carrier;

and lifting cam means (38' associated and alignable with said additional row of marker elements and located to be selectively engageable or disengageable with said additional row.

16. Knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein the selector jack cylinder (13) is formed with guide elements (17) extending beyond the length of the selector jacks (16) to guide the selector jacks on the selector jack cylinder.

17. Selector jack in combination with the machine according to claim 1, comprising a flat elongated metal strip formed with a plurality of grooves extending transversely to the longitudinal 18. Selector jack according to claim 17, including holding strips (28) bridging the grooves (26) formed in the metal strip and holding the pins (27) in position.

19. Selector jack according to claim 17, wherein at least two grooves are spaced closely together and form a group of grooves;

and the groups of grooves are placed in predetermined distances, staggered along the length of the strip;

and pins (270, 271) are movably located in the grooves forming the groups.

20. Method of selecting knitting needles in multi-feed knitting machines to knit a pattern, said knitting machine having needles (2) and means (3, coupled to the needles to control the needle projection into knitting position for idling in non-knitting position;

selector jacks (16) located on the machine and in engagement with the needle control means and movable between an effective and a rest position;

and a pattern carrier (80) located at a selection position to affect a patterning arrangement common to a plurality of knitting feeds (I, ll to knit Jacquard patterns of random size,

said method comprising marking at least some of the selector jacks (16) by selectively changing the outline aspect of the selector jacks at the predetermined selection position associated with said plurality of feeds, singly for each associated knitting feed at said selection position, in accordance with the pattern recorded on the patterncarrier;

sensing the selected marking of the selector jacks at the knitting feeds by sensing the outline aspect of the selector jacks;

selectively moving, or not moving the selector jacks in accordance with the sensed marking; controlling v needle projection in accordance with movement, or non-movement, of said selector jacks (16); and thereafter erasing the marking of the selector jacks by conforming the outline aspects of the jacks to a predetermined form.

21. Method according to claim 20, wherein the step of selectively marking the selector jacks comprises shifting the position of a movable element (27) on each selector jack (16) to project. or not project from a predetermined location of the selector jack.

22. Method according to claim 21, wherein the selector jacks are elongated and wherein the step of shifting the movable element comprises shifting a slidable pin transversely of the major extent of the selector jack to project from one side thereof by a predetermined amount, and at a predetermined location on the selector jack.

23. Method according to claim 20, wherein the selector jacks are elongated and wherein the step of marking the selector jacks comprises the step of projecting a movable element (27) from the selector jack at a predetermined location with respect to the length thereof.

24. Method according to claim 20, wherein the step of sensing the marking of the selector jacks comprises placing, at each feed, a cam adjacent the path of movement of the selector jacks and located to be engaged by selected selector jacks having the changed outline.

25. Method according to claim 23, wherein the step of sensing the marking of the selector jacks comprises placing, at each feed, a cam adjacent the path of movement of the selector jacks and located with respect to the predetermined location to be engaged by the movable element to displace the se lector jacks and cause needle selection.

26. Method according to claim 20, in which the means coupled to the needles to control projection thereof include connecting jacks,

including the step of effecting needle selection by engaging respective movable connecting jacks with the needles and moving said connecting jacks between idling or needle operating position;

and the step of moving the connecting jack comprises transferring movement of the selector jacks as controlled by the moving step to said connecting jacks;

and camming the connecting jacks in dependence on transferred movement.

27. Method according to claim 20, including the step of forming some of the selector jacks with a fixed outline, said so fixedly marked selector jacks controlling knitting of non-patterned portions of the fabric.

28. Method according to claim 20, wherein the step of marking the selector jacks comprises the step of passing a perforated pattern carrier adjacent the selector jacks and controlling the outline aspect of the selector jacks in accordance with the perforations of the pattern carrier.

29. Method according to claim 20, wherein the selector jacks are retained in a selector jack cylinder (13) operable with the machine including the step of preparing an endless pattern carrier having a length which is a whole number multiple of the circumference of the selector jack cylinder (13) and having one pattern repetition, more or less, than would correspond to a whole number multiple of the circumference of the selector jack cylinder to offset the pattern repetition sequence at each cycle of the pattern carrier by at least one pattern with respect to the circumference of the selector jack cylinder;

and wherein the step of marking the selector jacks comprises transferring the pattern from said pattern carrier to said selector jacks by changing the outline aspect of said jacks in accordance with the pattern.

30. Machine according to claim 1 wherein the pattern carrier is in the form of an endless loop, said loop having a length which is a whole number multiple of the circumference of the selector jack cylinder (13) and having one pattern repetition more or less than would correspond to a whole number multiple of the circumference of the selector jack cylinder to offset the pattern repetition sequence at each cycle of the pattern carrier by at least one pattern with respect to the circumference of the selector jack cylinder (13).

31. In a multi-feed circular knitting machine having needles (2) and movable means (3, coupled to the needles to control the needles for projection to knitting position or for idling in non-knitting position,

a patterning arrangement common to a plurality of knitting feeds (1, ll to knit Jacquard patterns of random size, and having selector means (16) located on the machine and controlling movement of the needle control means, and movable between an effective and a rest position; and

a pattern carrier (80) located to affect the patterning arrangement,

the improvement wherein the selector means comprises a selector jack cylinder l3) fixed with respect to the rotary position of the needles and coaxial with respect to the machine;

a plurality of selector jacks (l6) movably retained in the selector jack cylinder (13);

marker elements (27) located on at least some of the selectorjacks (16) in staggered, predetermined positions thereon and movable on the selector jacks between an active, marked and a rest position;

at least one selection position (40) located on the circumference of the machine and having means (41) controlling the pattern carrier (80) to engage predetermined ones of the marker elements (27) of any one jack for transfer of information recorded on the pattern carrier to the selector jacks by effecting, selectively, movement of the marker elements (27) from rest to active, marked position, and thus store pattern information on the selector jacks;

cam means (32, 33 37) associated with the respective knitting feeds (I, ll and located on the machine in staggered relation corresponding to the staggered predetermined positions of the marker elements (27), said cam means sensing the position of the marker elements (27) on the selector jacks 16) and thus the transferred pattern information and effecting, or not effecting, change in position of the selector jacks (16) in accordance with the sensed marking, change in position of the selector jacks being transferred to the needle control means to selectively move the needle between idling and knitting position;

marking erase means (29, 30) selectively engageable by those marker elements which have been moved,

and returning all marker elements to rest position;

a connecting jack ring (12) is provided having radially extending slots cut therein;

wherein the needle control means comprises a needle jack and a connecting jack for each needle each said needle jack (3) being movable between an active and a rest position;

said connecting jacks (10) being located in the slots of the connecting jack ring (12) and engaging the needle jacks (3) to move the needle jacks between the active and rest positions upon shifting of position of the connecting jacks (10);

the connecting jack for any needle being in engagement with respective selector jacks (16) and shiftable in position upon movement of the selector jacks in accordance with the position of the marker elements (27) of the selector jacks (16) as determined by the pattern;

and comprising connecting jack operating cam means (20, 21) respectively engageable with said connecting jacks (10) in accordance with the position of the connecting jacks, as determined by the transferred movement of the selector jacks, as controlled by the pattern.

32. Knitting machine according to claim 31, wherein the connecting jacks (10) are axially shiftable in said slots, and said jack operating cam means (20, 21) are located at different axial heights with respect to the connecting jack ring to selectively engage the connecting jacks in accordance with the position of the connecting jack (10) as determined by the position of the associated selector jack (16) and thus of the pattern. 

1. In a multi-feed circular knitting machine having needles (2) and means (3, 10) coupled to the needles to control the needles for projection to knitting position or for idling in non-knitting position, a patterning arrangement common to a plurality of knitting feeds (I, II . . .) to knit Jacquard patterns of random size, and having selector means located on the machine and in engagement with the needle control means, and movable between an effective and a rest position; and a pattern carrier (80) located to affect the patterning arrangement, the improvement wherein the selector means comprises a selector jack cylinder (13) fixed with respect to the rotary position of the needles and coaxial with respect to the machine; a plurality of selector jacks (16) movably retained in the selector jack cylinder (13); a plurality of marker elements (27) located on at least some of the selector jacks (16), located at predetermined longitudinally staggered positions on each selector jack (16) and movable on the jacks between an active, marked position and a rest, non-projected position, by a predetermined distance, from an end surface of the jack, depending on whether the marker is active, or in rest position; a selection position (40) located on the circumference of the machine and having means (41) guiding the pattern carrier (80) to engage all marker elements (27) of any one jack in projected position for transfer of information recorded on the pattern carrier to the selector jacks by effecting, selectively, movement of the marker elements (27) from rest to active position, and thus store pattern information on the selector jacks; cam means (32, 33 . . . 37) associated with the respective knitting feeds (I, II . . . ) and located on the machine in staggered relation corresponding to the staggered predetermined positions of the marker elements (27), said cam means sensing the position of the marker elements (27) on the selector jacks (16) and thus the transferred pattern information and effecting, or not effecting, change in position of the selector jacks (16) in accordance with the sensed marking, change in position of the selector jacks being transferred to the needle control means to selectively move the needle between idling and knitting position; and marking erase means (29, 30) selectively engageable by those marker elements which have been moved, and returning the marker elements which were placed in projected position to rest position.
 2. Knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein the selector jacks (16) are elongated and the marker elements comprise marker pins (27) slidable transversely to the main axis of the selector jack (16).
 3. Knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein the selector jacks (16) are elongated and the marker elements comprise at least two substantially adjacent marker pins (FIG. 7: 270, 271) located at a predetermined position with respect to the length of the selector jack, the marker pins being independently shiftable on the selector jack.
 4. Knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein the needles of the machine are retained in a circular needle retaining element (1); and the selector jack cylinder (13) is coaxial with respect to the needle retaining element, radially spaced therefrom, and mechanically fixed thereto.
 5. Knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein a connecting jack ring (12) is provided having radially extending slots cut therein and wherein the needle control means comprises a needle jack and a connecting jack for each needle; each needle jack (3) being movable between an active and a rest position; the connecting jacks (10) being located in the slots of the connecting jack ring (12) and controlling the needle jacks (3) to move the needle jacks between the active and rest positions upon shifting of position of thE connecting jacks (10); said connecting jack for any needle being in engagement with a respective selector jack (16) and shiftable in position upon movement of the selector jack in accordance with the position of the marker elements (27) of the selector jack (16) as determined by the pattern.
 6. Knitting machine according to claim 5, further comprising connecting jack operating cam means (20, 21) respectively engageable with said connecting jacks (10) in accordance with the position of the connecting jacks, as determined by the transferred movement of the selector jacks, as controlled by the pattern.
 7. Knitting machine according to claim 6, wherein the connecting jacks (10) are axially shiftable in said slots, and said jack operating cam means (20, 21) are located at different axial heights with respect to the connecting jack ring to selectively engage the connecting jacks in accordance with the position of the connecting jack (10) as determined by the position of the associated selector jack (16) and thus of the pattern.
 8. Knitting machine according to claim 5, including reset cam means (23, 25) located behind each knitting feed returning the connecting jacks (10) to rest position.
 9. Knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein the marking erase means (29, 30) comprise means located beyond the last knitting feed for which a selection is to be made to return all marker elements to rest position.
 10. Knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein the selector jacks (16) are elongated elements and the marker elements (27) on the selector jacks form shiftable pins (27; 270, 271) movable transversely with respect to the selector jacks in accordance with the pattern on the pattern carrier (80); the selector jack cylinder (13) is formed with sawtooth shaped grooves located opposite the shiftable pins on the selector jack and having an inclined camming surface (29); and the marking erase means comprises cam means (30) moving the selector jacks transversely to the sawtooth grooves for engagement of those pins which have been shifted with the inclined surface (29) to re-set all shifted pins to rest position on the selector jacks.
 11. Knitting machine according to claim 1, including guide cam means (19, 50) located in alignment with the selection position (40) to positively guide the selector jacks (16) while the pattern carrier (80) engages the marker elements on the selector jacks (16).
 12. Knitting machine according to claim 5, including guide cam means (19, 50) located in alignment with the selection position (40) to positively guide the selector jacks (16) while the pattern carrier (80) engages the marker elements on the selector jacks (16); and needle operating cam means formed with a straight, neutral guide groove (60) in the region of the selection position (40).
 13. Knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein the pattern carrier comprises a punched tape (80) and wherein the pattern carrier guide means (41) comprises a rotatable guide drum (41) located at the selection position (40) coaxial with respect to the selector jack cylinder (13), said drum being driven in synchronism with the machine drive and having means (46) guiding, without slip, the pattern tape thereover; said drum (41) being located adjacent the selector jacks (16) and formed with ring-shaped grooves (49) at locations aligned with the marker elements (27) on the selector jacks (16) to permit the marker elements to extend into said grooves; the tape being guided about the circumference of the drum and being formed with punch holes in alignment (321-371) with the location of the marker elements (27) to cover, or not to cover the grooves (49) in accordance with the punch marks and thereby move, or not move the marker elements (27) on the selector jacks in accordance with the pattern on the pattern carrier.
 14. Knitting machine according to claim 13, wherein the circumferential alignment of the drum with respect to the maChine drive is adjustable.
 15. Knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the selector jacks (16) located in the selector jack cylinder (13) includes a row of marker elements (38) located in a position out of engagement with said pattern carrier; and lifting cam means (38''), associated and alignable with said additional row of marker elements and located to be selectively engageable or disengageable with said additional row.
 16. Knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein the selector jack cylinder (13) is formed with guide elements (17) extending beyond the length of the selector jacks (16) to guide the selector jacks on the selector jack cylinder.
 17. Selector jack in combination with the machine according to claim 1, comprising a flat elongated metal strip formed with a plurality of grooves extending transversely to the longitudinal extent of the strip at a predetermined distance from the end of the strip and from each other; the marker elements being shiftable pin elements located in said grooves and laterally shiftable therein.
 18. Selector jack according to claim 17, including holding strips (28) bridging the grooves (26) formed in the metal strip and holding the pins (27) in position.
 19. Selector jack according to claim 17, wherein at least two grooves are spaced closely together and form a group of grooves; and the groups of grooves are placed in predetermined distances, staggered along the length of the strip; and pins (270, 271) are movably located in the grooves forming the groups.
 20. Method of selecting knitting needles in multi-feed knitting machines to knit a pattern, said knitting machine having needles (2) and means (3, 10) coupled to the needles to control the needle projection into knitting position for idling in non-knitting position; selector jacks (16) located on the machine and in engagement with the needle control means and movable between an effective and a rest position; and a pattern carrier (80) located at a selection position to affect a patterning arrangement common to a plurality of knitting feeds (I, II . . . ) to knit Jacquard patterns of random size, said method comprising marking at least some of the selector jacks (16) by selectively changing the outline aspect of the selector jacks at the predetermined selection position associated with said plurality of feeds, singly for each associated knitting feed at said selection position, in accordance with the pattern recorded on the pattern carrier; sensing the selected marking of the selector jacks at the knitting feeds by sensing the outline aspect of the selector jacks; selectively moving, or not moving the selector jacks in accordance with the sensed marking; controlling needle projection in accordance with movement, or non-movement, of said selector jacks (16); and thereafter erasing the marking of the selector jacks by conforming the outline aspects of the jacks to a predetermined form.
 21. Method according to claim 20, wherein the step of selectively marking the selector jacks comprises shifting the position of a movable element (27) on each selector jack (16) to project, or not project from a predetermined location of the selector jack.
 22. Method according to claim 21, wherein the selector jacks are elongated and wherein the step of shifting the movable element comprises shifting a slidable pin transversely of the major extent of the selector jack to project from one side thereof by a predetermined amount, and at a predetermined location on the selector jack.
 23. Method according to claim 20, wherein the selector jacks are elongated and wherein the step of marking the selector jacks comprises the step of projecting a movable element (27) from the selector jack at a predetermined location with respect to the length thereof.
 24. Method according to claim 20, wherein the step of sensing the marking of the selector jacks comprises placing, at each feed, a cam adjacent the path of movement of the selector jacks and located to be engaged by selected selector jacks having the changed outline.
 25. Method according to claim 23, wherein the step of sensing the marking of the selector jacks comprises placing, at each feed, a cam adjacent the path of movement of the selector jacks and located with respect to the predetermined location to be engaged by the movable element to displace the selector jacks and cause needle selection.
 26. Method according to claim 20, in which the means coupled to the needles to control projection thereof include connecting jacks, including the step of effecting needle selection by engaging respective movable connecting jacks with the needles and moving said connecting jacks between idling or needle operating position; and the step of moving the connecting jack comprises transferring movement of the selector jacks as controlled by the moving step to said connecting jacks; and camming the connecting jacks in dependence on transferred movement.
 27. Method according to claim 20, including the step of forming some of the selector jacks with a fixed outline, said so fixedly marked selector jacks controlling knitting of non-patterned portions of the fabric.
 28. Method according to claim 20, wherein the step of marking the selector jacks comprises the step of passing a perforated pattern carrier adjacent the selector jacks and controlling the outline aspect of the selector jacks in accordance with the perforations of the pattern carrier.
 29. Method according to claim 20, wherein the selector jacks are retained in a selector jack cylinder (13) operable with the machine including the step of preparing an endless pattern carrier having a length which is a whole number multiple of the circumference of the selector jack cylinder (13) and having one pattern repetition, more or less, than would correspond to a whole number multiple of the circumference of the selector jack cylinder to offset the pattern repetition sequence at each cycle of the pattern carrier by at least one pattern with respect to the circumference of the selector jack cylinder; and wherein the step of marking the selector jacks comprises transferring the pattern from said pattern carrier to said selector jacks by changing the outline aspect of said jacks in accordance with the pattern.
 30. Machine according to claim 1 wherein the pattern carrier is in the form of an endless loop, said loop having a length which is a whole number multiple of the circumference of the selector jack cylinder (13) and having one pattern repetition more or less than would correspond to a whole number multiple of the circumference of the selector jack cylinder to offset the pattern repetition sequence at each cycle of the pattern carrier by at least one pattern with respect to the circumference of the selector jack cylinder (13).
 31. In a multi-feed circular knitting machine having needles (2) and movable means (3, 10) coupled to the needles to control the needles for projection to knitting position or for idling in non-knitting position, a patterning arrangement common to a plurality of knitting feeds (I, II . . . ) to knit Jacquard patterns of random size, and having selector means (16) located on the machine and controlling movement of the needle control means, and movable between an effective and a rest position; and a pattern carrier (80) located to affect the patterning arrangement, the improvement wherein the selector means comprises a selector jack cylinder (13) fixed with respect to the rotary position of the needles and coaxial with respect to the machine; a plurality of selector jacks (16) movably retained in the selector jack cylinder (13); marker elements (27) located on at least some of the selector jacks (16) in staggered, predetermined positions thereon and movable on the selector jacks between an active, marked and a rest position; at least one sElection position (40) located on the circumference of the machine and having means (41) controlling the pattern carrier (80) to engage predetermined ones of the marker elements (27) of any one jack for transfer of information recorded on the pattern carrier to the selector jacks by effecting, selectively, movement of the marker elements (27) from rest to active, marked position, and thus store pattern information on the selector jacks; cam means (32, 33 . . . 37) associated with the respective knitting feeds (I, II . . . ) and located on the machine in staggered relation corresponding to the staggered predetermined positions of the marker elements (27), said cam means sensing the position of the marker elements (27) on the selector jacks (16) and thus the transferred pattern information and effecting, or not effecting, change in position of the selector jacks (16) in accordance with the sensed marking, change in position of the selector jacks being transferred to the needle control means to selectively move the needle between idling and knitting position; marking erase means (29, 30) selectively engageable by those marker elements which have been moved, and returning all marker elements to rest position; a connecting jack ring (12) is provided having radially extending slots cut therein; wherein the needle control means comprises a needle jack and a connecting jack for each needle each said needle jack (3) being movable between an active and a rest position; said connecting jacks (10) being located in the slots of the connecting jack ring (12) and engaging the needle jacks (3) to move the needle jacks between the active and rest positions upon shifting of position of the connecting jacks (10); the connecting jack for any needle being in engagement with respective selector jacks (16) and shiftable in position upon movement of the selector jacks in accordance with the position of the marker elements (27) of the selector jacks (16) as determined by the pattern; and comprising connecting jack operating cam means (20, 21) respectively engageable with said connecting jacks (10) in accordance with the position of the connecting jacks, as determined by the transferred movement of the selector jacks, as controlled by the pattern.
 32. Knitting machine according to claim 31, wherein the connecting jacks (10) are axially shiftable in said slots, and said jack operating cam means (20, 21) are located at different axial heights with respect to the connecting jack ring to selectively engage the connecting jacks in accordance with the position of the connecting jack (10) as determined by the position of the associated selector jack (16) and thus of the pattern. 